13 Best Olympus Lenses in 2024 (Prime & Zoom Lens Reviews)

Finding the best Olympus lens is the best way to make the most of your Olympus camera. They have some fantastic lenses on the market. And Olympus has quality lenses to suit all types of photographers. Whether you’re shooting street, portrait, or wildlife photography, there’s an Olympus lens for you.

The Olympus ED 25mm f/1.8 prime lens is our top Olympus lens. It’s a versatile lens with fantastic optics. It’s compatible with all Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras. It’s lightweight and compact. And the fast maximum aperture gives you excellent exposure control.

What Is the Best Olympus Lens?

Olympus is one of the oldest and most trusted names in the photography business. They have become a specialist camera brand. And they are now dedicated to making Micro Four Thirds (MFT) cameras.

They are compact and lightweight interchangeable lens cameras. And they are packed with advanced features for photos and videos. See our full list of the best Olympus cameras.

Olympus has an excellent selection of lenses to go with their MFT cameras. They don’t have the same extensive catalog as the Nikon F-mount range. But Olympus does have a lens for every type of photography.

They have a healthy catalog of prime and zoom lenses. And all their lenses reach a very high standard of optical quality.

The lenses on this list are compatible with all Olympus MFT cameras. And Panasonic users will be happy that these lenses are compatible with Panasonic Lumix Micro Four Thirds cameras. See the best of both brands in our list of the best Micro Four Thirds cameras.

We’ve split the list into two parts. This will help you find the perfect Olympus lens for you. The first section looks at the best Olympus prime lenses. And the second section looks at the best Olympus zoom lenses. Use the links below to find the section you need.

1. Best Olympus Prime Lenses
2. Best Olympus Zoom Lenses

Best Olympus Prime Lenses

This section looks at the best Olympus lenses from their prime lens collection.

Prime lenses have a fixed focal length. This means they can’t zoom in or out. While you may get less versatility, prime lenses have better optical quality. So a prime lens gives you clearer images with less distortion or aberrations.

Here’s an overview of the best Olympus prime lenses. Scroll a little further to see all the best prime lenses in more detail.

The Olympus 25mm f/1.8 is the best lens if you want an all-around performer. The optical quality is excellent. You get pristine image quality in all conditions. And you also get a lens hood to help reduce flair and ghosting.

It’s one of Olympus’s most versatile lenses. The 25mm focal length is equivalent to 50mm on a full frame camera. It makes this the Olympus equivalent of a nifty-fifty lens. It gives you a lovely 47-degree angle of view.

This is the most popular focal length for a street photography lens. It’s also great as a portrait lens. And its compact size and light weight make it a good travel lens choice.

The f/1.8 max aperture gives you plenty of exposure control. You can work in low-light situations and achieve the images you want. And it gives you a lovely shallow depth of field at the max aperture setting. This is great for shooting products and portraits.

The 25mm f/1.8 prime is a great place to start with Olympus lenses. It’s a versatile piece of camera gear. It takes up very little space in your camera backpack. And it gives you fantastic optics at an affordable price.

The Olympus ED 45mm f/1.8 is the best Olympus lens for portrait photographers. The 45mm focal length might seem fairly standard for a prime lens. But 45mm on an MFT camera is equivalent to 70mm on a full frame camera.

It gives you a tighter frame with a 27-degree angle of view, ideal for intimate portraits. And the autofocus (AF) motor is also smooth and quiet.

The f/1.8 max aperture allows a soft bokeh effect in your shots. And it gives you good control over your exposure settings. This is helpful when working in low light. You have total creative control no matter what the lighting conditions.

The optical quality is excellent. You get edge-to-edge sharpness. And it also has a special Zero Coating on the glass elements. This eliminates ghosting and flare. The results are sharp and clear images every time.

The rounded seven-blade aperture also improves the quality of the bokeh. The round diaphragm creates a smoother blurring effect. The 45mm f/1.8 gives your portraits a subtle elegance. And it helps you make your subject stand out. It’s also helpful for effective product photography.

Check out our full list of the best lenses for portrait photography. And if you’re ready to take your photography to the next level, invest in our Profit from Portraits e-book. It’s an in-depth guide to making money from portrait photography.

The Olympus ED 12mm f/2.0 is the best wide-angle prime lens. The 12mm focal length gives you a lovely shooting angle for wider shots. It’s ideal for real estate interior photographers.

It even helps you capture cramped interior spaces. And the pristine optical quality is perfect for landscape photographers.

You get a wide aperture range. This gives you more exposure control for creative photography. And the f/2 max aperture lets you work in lower light. This is another bonus for real estate photography. Even dark and dingy rooms will appear bright and airy in your images.

It has a full-metal construction. This makes it durable and hard-wearing. But it’s also compact and lightweight. It weighs nothing more than 130 grams. And it takes up no room in your camera bag.

The 12mm f/2.0 also has a minimum focus distance of 20 cm. That’s handy for close-ups of details within the property. If you’re keen on property photography, see our full list of the best lenses for real estate photography.

The Olympus ED 75mm f/1.8 is the best telephoto lens for Olympus cameras. The build quality is superb. It has a strong metal construction. But it is also lightweight, weighing only 305 grams. It’s also compact for a telephoto lens.

The 75mm focal length might not look impressive. But this is equivalent to a 150mm focal length on a full frame camera. This gives you excellent magnification, getting you close to your subject.

So it is a great lens for sports photography. And the tight 16-degree gives you a tight composition that suits portrait photographers.

The f/1.8 aperture is fast for a lens with this magnification. It gives you plenty of exposure options. It improves low-light performance. And it gives you beautiful background bokeh.

The nine-blade aperture diaphragm improves the bokeh effect even more. And it gives you smoother bokeh features and soft out-of-focus areas.

The optical quality is excellent. And three of the ten elements have a special extra-low reflection coating. You get corner-to-corner sharpness. And chromatic aberration is kept to a minimum.

The lens also has a fast and reliable AF motor. Plus, it’s quiet and quick to find focus.

This 75mm f/1.8 prime lens gives you excellent magnification. It has a solid construction. And it has a reasonable price tag compared to similar lenses from other brands.

The Olympus 60mm f/2.8 is the best Olympus lens for macro photography. It’s a specialist lens with all the features a macro photographer needs. It’s a well-built and durable lens. And it’s completely weather sealed for outdoor shooting.

The lens gives you a 1x subject magnification. This is why this is a specialist macro lens. It produces excellent visual reproductions of your subject. And the 19 cm minimum focus distance lets you get close to your subject.

This is great for shooting detailed product photography. And you can also shoot breathtaking nature and insect photography.

You get excellent low-light performance from the f/2.8 max aperture. This also increases the soft focus effect when using a shallow depth of field. And the beautiful bokeh effect helps accentuate the subject in your image.

The glass engineering or the ED 60mm f/2.8 is outstanding. The lens has 13 glass elements in 10 groups. This gives you fantastic optical quality. You get a sharpness right across the frame. And you experience minimal distortion or aberration.

The Olympus ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO is the best Olympus lens for professionals. The 45mm focal length gives you a view like a 90mm lens on a full frame camera.

It gives excellent composition options for portrait photographers. And it’s also perfect for product and fashion photographers.

The first thing to mention is the super-fast f/1.2 max aperture. It gives you outstanding low-light performance. And it also allows you to achieve an ultra-shallow depth of field. You also get a rich and smooth background bokeh that strengthens the subject in the image.

It’s an ideal lens for portrait and product photography. But the focal length and the wide aperture make it a good lens for event photography. You can snap speakers or performers on stage. The lens can cope with dimmed stage lighting. And you can even shoot indoor sporting events.

A manual focus clutch makes it easy to switch between auto and manual focus. And the lens uses Olympus’s best AF system. It’s efficient autofocus where the motor only moves one of the glass elements.

This means the motor is also quick to respond and find focus. So you never miss a shot! It’s another reason why it’s a great lens for events.

Its glass engineering gives you spectacular clarity. And with its Z Coating Nano technology, you never have to worry about distortion or ghosting. You’ll take clean, sharp images even when using in-frame light sources.

It’s a professional-standard lens that delivers outstanding quality in all conditions. It’s even weather-sealed for outdoor photography.

The 45mm f/1.2 PRO costs twice as much as the 45mm f/1.8. But there’s is an equal jump in quality. So it’s one of the best Olympus prime lenses.

The Olympus ED 300mm f/4.0 PRO is the best telephoto lens for Olympus shooters. It has a 300mm focal length. But this translates to a 600mm focal length on full frame cameras.

It means you get incredible magnification. And you can get close to your subject without actually going near them. So it’s the perfect prime lens for wildlife photographers and sports photographers.

The lens doesn’t have built-in image stabilization. But it does have an IS mechanism that syncs with the stabilization of your camera. Thankfully, many of Olympus’s MFT cameras have built-in five-axis image stabilization.

The IS mechanism enhances the camera stabilization. And it allows you to shoot with even slower shutter speeds. So it opens up new levels of low-light performance with or without a heavy-duty tripod.

The f/4.0 max aperture doesn’t sound like the fastest out there. But it is good, considering you get 600mm of magnification. You still get plenty of exposure control in low light. And you get even more control when paired with a camera with stabilization.

Few super-telephoto lenses give you this level of clarity. You can shoot your subjects from great distances and still capture pristine details. The special ZERO (Zuiko Extra-low Reflection Optical) lens coating also reduces flare and aberrations.

The ED 300mm f/4.0 PRO is expensive. But it’s totally worth it for sports and wildlife photography.

Best Olympus Zoom Lenses

This section looks at the best Olympus zoom lenses. There’s a wide range available. And we’ve been careful to include a zoom lens for everyone. There’s one for any photographer and for all budgets!

The Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II is a fantastic zoom lens for casual shooters. It’s lightweight and compact. The collapsible design means you can slip it into your messenger bag. And it’s one of the most affordable zoom lenses from Olympus.

The 14-42mm focal length range gives you excellent shot variety. This focal length equals 28-84mm on a full frame camera. This makes it a versatile zoom lens perfect for street and travel photographers.

But it’s also an excellent choice for portrait photographers. You can shoot wide environmental portraits. Or you can zoom in for a more intimate composition.

The AF motor is fast and near-silent in operation. You can’t complain about the glass quality. And while the max aperture isn’t fast, you won’t have any problems using a camera with stabilization.

The 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II lens is a cheap and cheerful zoom lens. And if you’re looking for excellent value, it is the best Olympus zoom lens available.

The Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 is the best wide-angle zoom lens. It’s lightweight and compact. The build quality is excellent. And the 9-18mm focal range gives you a nice wide angle. It’s equivalent to 18-36mm on a full frame camera.

It’s ideal for real estate photographers (interiors and exteriors). It’s a good choice for landscape photographers. And it’s one of the most popular lenses with Olympus video shooters.

Wide-angle lenses are prone to distortion, especially near the edges. But this Olympus lens gives you distortion-free images throughout the zoom range.

It has two dual aspherical elements. And there’s a high-refractive index element. These work together to improve sharpness across the frame.

The lens uses the Movie and Still Compatible (MSC) autofocus motor. It’s fast and near-silent. And it works well when shooting photos or videos. This is why it’s a great lens for cinematographers and moviemakers. Plus, there is a locking mechanism to give you more focus control.

The f/4-5.6 maximum aperture isn’t the fastest. But when paired with an Olympus OM-D or Pen model, you can use the camera’s stabilization for better low-light performance.

The 9-18mm f/4-5.6 lens is an affordable wide-angle zoom. And it’s one of the best Olympus lenses around.

The Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II is an outstanding standard zoom lens. The focal length range gives you fantastic shot versatility. And it has the quality and features of a professional lens. It is one of the more expensive lenses. But it’s also one of Olympus’s finest.

The 12-40mm focal length gives you plenty to play with. It’s equivalent to 24-80mm on a full frame camera. You can shoot anything from landscapes to portraits.

It’s also a good option for real estate photography. The versatile zoom range allows you to shoot interior and exterior shots.

The f/2.8 max aperture is decent for a zoom lens. And it’s constant throughout the zoom range. You get the same low-light performance at wide and narrow angles. It helps you get a bokeh effect in portraits and is a real bonus when shooting property interiors.

The lens quality is exceptional. Each element has been made with precision. And the outer glass elements have Olympus’s special ZERO coating. This reduces flare and aberrations from your images.

And there’s a fluorine coating to help you keep the lens in good order. It makes it easy to wipe away dust and dirt without causing a scratch.

You can feel the build quality when you hold it in your hand. It’s a compact zoom lens. And it’s thoroughly weather-sealed for outdoor photography. So it can cope with any photography expedition.

Quality at this level isn’t cheap. But the 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II lens is the best Olympus lens for many photographers.

The Olympus ED 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO is a superb telephoto lens from Olympus. It’s a pro-grade zoom lens with a pro-grade price tag. But this lens is worth every cent. It’s a versatile lens you can use for many types of photography.

The max focal length is the same as 300mm on a full frame camera. This gives you excellent magnification. And the expert glass engineering gives you exceptional image quality. So you get edge-to-edge sharpness at every point throughout the zoom range.

The most notable feature is the dual VCM AF system. VCM stands for Voice Coil Motor. It doesn’t use gears to drive the elements. And it gives you quicker and smoother autofocus. It’s incredibly fast and precise. And it’s why sports photographers consider this the best Olympus lens.

It also has a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture. And it’s great for a zoom lens with this level of magnification.

It also stays at f/2.8 throughout the range. So it gives the same excellent low-light performance at 150mm as at 40mm. This is ideal for indoor sporting or night event photography.

It’s a tough old lens with strong metal construction. And it’s completely weather sealed. So you can use it outdoors, come rain or shine. It’s a bonus for sports photographers stuck on the sidelines, working in miserable weather.

The 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO is one of the best Olympus lenses for professionals. And the results are always outstanding!

The Olympus ED 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 is another excellent telephoto lens. Its wide focal length range makes it one of the most versatile options. And the video-friendly AF system makes it a top choice for filmmakers. The price also makes it attractive for photographers with any budget.

The 12-200mm focal length is the same as 24-400mm on a full frame. That gives you outstanding magnification. That focal length is good enough for shooting sports of all kinds. And you can even shoot outstanding wildlife photography.

The MSC autofocus system was designed with photography and videography in mind. And it gives you fast and precise focusing in either medium.

The pristine optics give you beautiful images. There’s minimal distortion throughout the zoom range. And the lens is weather sealed and dustproof.

It’s a tough lens that’s built to last. So you get excellent value for your money with the 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 lens. It’s a good choice for everyone, from sports photographers to videographers.

The Olympus ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS is their most powerful lens. It’s a beautiful piece of equipment. And it gives you outstanding magnification.

400mm is a large focal length by any standards. But on a Micro Four Thirds camera, this is equivalent to 800mm on a full frame camera. This is enough reach for professional sports and wildlife photographers.

Unlike most other Olympus lenses, this one has built-in image stabilization. It gives you an extra three stops of exposure compensation. And when coupled with a camera with image stabilization, you can get up to eight stops.

Stabilization makes up for the sluggish max aperture. You can shoot sports events at night. And you can capture incredible animal images at dawn and dusk.

The AF system is excellent. And there’s a built-in focus limiter. This allows you to limit the focus range, which speeds up the AF even further.

You also have control switches on the barrel for easy operation. And the lens is weather-sealed against the elements. For all these reasons, the 100-400mm f/5.6-6.3 is the best lens for wildlife photography.

FAQs to Help You Find the Best Olympus Lens

These are some of the most-asked questions relating to Olympus lenses. We’ve answered them to help you make the right choice. With this extra information, you’ll be able to find the perfect Olympus lens for you.

What Should I Consider When Buying an Olympus Lens?

Purpose and price are the two most important considerations. To define the purpose, you must consider the type of photography you want to shoot. Are you a street photographer? Or do you enjoy shooting landscapes or portraits?

We’ve given some information on the best uses for each lens. This will help you find the perfect one.

Then you need to think about your budget. Overall, Olympus lenses offer excellent value. But some lenses are more expensive than others. The Olympus PRO line has professional-grade features. But they also cost quite a lot of money.

Beginners and casual photographers can opt for cheaper options. Thankfully, Olympus doesn’t produce bad lenses. This means even affordable lenses give you fantastic results.

What Are the Most Affordable Olympus Lenses?

The Olympus 25mm f/1.8 offers excellent value for a prime lens. It’s the Olympus equivalent of a nifty-fifty. It’s a versatile lens with a fast max aperture. And the optical quality is excellent. It’s the best Olympus lens if you’re looking for a bargain.

The Olympus 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II is affordable if you want a zoom lens. It’s lightweight and compact. It has a versatile focal length range. And you can’t beat the price.

You can also go for the Olympus ED 12-200mm f/3.5-6.3 if you want a longer zoom range. It offers excellent value for a telephoto lens. It’s much more affordable than similar lenses from other brands.

Do Olympus Lenses Have Image Stabilization?

Very few Olympus lenses have image stabilization built-in. The Olympus ED 100-400mm f/5-6.3 IS is the only lens on our list with built-in stabilization.

This is because image stabilization is essential when working with that focal length. The larger the focal length, the more sensitive it is to camera movement.

There are two main reasons most Olympus lenses don’t have stabilization. The first is because many Olympus cameras have five-axis image stabilization. This gives you plenty of shake reduction and exposure compensation.

So it would be unnecessary when cameras already have image stabilization. The second reason is that it would make the lens heavier and cost more.

Are these Lenses Compatible with My Olympus Camera?

The Olympus lenses on our list are compatible with all Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras (OM-D).

Whether you’re using the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV or the OM System OM-1, you can use any lens on this list.

These lenses are also compatible with all Panasonic Lumix MFT cameras.

Conclusion: The Best Olympus Lens

To find the best Olympus lens, think about what you want to shoot. The best lens is the one that suits your needs as a photographer. Thankfully, Olympus has an excellent catalog of lenses. They have fantastic prime and zoom lenses. They have lenses for portraits, sports, and all types of photography.

The Olympus 25mm f/1.8 is our number one pick. It’s a versatile prime lens with lovely optical quality. You can shoot landscape, portrait, and street photography. It’s compact enough for your camera bag. And it’s the most affordable option on the list. It’s a great place to start with Olympus lenses!